17 cops penalized for not attending firearms training

Seventeen of the 123 policemen from the Cebu Provincial Office who failed to attend the Gun Proficiency Training last year will lose a day’s salary and will not get any of their benefits for this year.

SPO1 Jack Inihao of the Cebu Provincial Investigation and Detection Management Branch said it was CCPO director Carmelo Valmoria who recommended the forfeiture of benefits and one day salaries of the 17 policemen.

Valmoria required all the policemen who were not able to attend the training to submit a written explanation. Of the 123, only 47 have submitted their explanations, 30 of whom cited health reasons for failing to attend the training.

Inihao said Valmoria was not satisfied with the explanations of the 17 policemen, thus the punishment of forfeiture of benefits and salaries.

Gun proficiency trainings are very important for policemen following the warning of PNP chief Avelino Razon Jr. that policemen can’t shoot well will be disarmed and will be given desk duties. The guns of those policemen who will be disarmed will go to policemen who are qualified to handle firearms. Razon said policemen who are not proficient in using firearms pose a danger to the community. — Garry B. Lao/QSB